Jags claim area championship, shut out Falcons, 10-0
The Northridge Jaguars baseball clinched the AHSAA Class 6A Area 6 championship on Friday evening, shutting out the Central Falcons, 10-0. Evan Malone and Cade Senn combined to allow only one hit and gave up no runs over six innings. Milo Obradovich provided the highlight of the day at the plate with a 2-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth.
The Jags kicked off the first inning by turning in a 1-2-3 top half to keep the Falcons off the board. In the bottom, Mayson Elam was hit by the fourth pitch. Following Elam’s customary stolen base, Senn and Obradovich drew walks to load the bases for the Jags. Jacks Sanderson was hit by pitch, plating Elam from third. Next up, Thomas Woolf sacrificed to right, scoring Senn and advancing Obradovich to third. Malone then sacrificed to score Obradovich and move Sanderson to second. That concluded the Jags’ scoring for the inning, resulting in a 3-0 lead.
The second inning was quiet for both teams but the Jags did pick up a run in the third. Senn and Obradovich were both hit by pitch and Sanderson moved both up one base on a ground out to second. Woolf walked to load the bases and Malone’s sacrifice to right plated Senn, giving the Jags a 4-0 lead at the end of three innings.
After picking up a single to left, Logan Caldwell came around to score on a single to left by Senn, who rolled into second on the incoming throw from the outfield. After Senn stole third, Obradovich launched the seventh pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence. The two-run homer gave the Jags a 7-0 lead after four innings.
The scoreboard runs column remained silent in the fifth inning and the Jags kept the Falcons quiet in the top of the sixth. Senn led off the bottom of the six by drawing a walk. The next two Jags’ hitters failed to reach base. Woolf drew a walk, moving Aiden Avery (courtesy runner for Senn) to second. Malone then drew a walk to load the bases for Messina, who responded with a single to right, scoring Avery, Woolf and Malone. Messina got caught between second and third, but made sure Malone scored before giving up the third out of the inning to end the game at 10-0.
Obradovich gets the nod for leading the Jags at the plate, with his one hit being a two-run homer. Senn, Woolf, Messina, Kyle Nunnally and Caldwell also added one hit each. Messina led the Jags with 3 RBIs, with Obradovich and Malone following closely with two RBIs each. Senn, Sanderson and Woolf contributed one RBI each. Senn stepped on the plate three times for the Jags and Obradovich scored twice. Elam, Woolf, Malone and Caldwell scored once each.
Malone went five innings on the mound, getting the win, while striking out nine and walking none. Malone gave up only one hit and no runs. Senn gave one inning of service in the top of the sixth, surrendering no runs, no hits and getting the first two put-outs of the inning himself.
We are awaiting final details, but the Jags will host the first round of the playoffs, starting next Friday at The Ridge.